Sacramento County Biographies
RICHARD G. SOUTAR, M. D.
Transcribed by Marla Fitzsimmons.
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
Dr. Richard G. Soutar, who for the past seven years has been director of health
and physical education, or school physician, to the public schools of
Sacramento, and is regarded as a very able and efficient man in this field of
labor, was born in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, April 27, 1888, and received his
early education there. After graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and
mastering in physical education. He completed his college course at the
University of Oklahoma while acting as professor of physical education at the
institution, from which he graduated with the degrees of Bachelor of Science and
Doctor of Medicine. He also attended summer law school one season. After leaving
Wisconsin he was director of a playground system, and also supervisor of a
public school system of physical education. During the years 1922 and 1923 he
served as interne in the University Hospital at the Oklahoma City. He served as
professor of physical education at the University of Oklahoma, later director of
athletics at Oklahoma City College, and college physician at the Oklahoma
Agricultural & Mechanical College of Stillwater, Oklahoma. On January 1, 1924,
he came to his present position as director of health and development in the
Sacramento schools, and has here done very effective and appreciated work.
Dr. Soutar was united in marriage to Miss Myra Davidson, a native of Tennessee,
and they are the parents of two children, Douglas R., aged twelve years, and
Margaret M., aged ten years. Both parents are members of the Protestant
Episcopal Church and are active in its work.
During the world war Dr. Soutar attended the army training school at Fort
Sheridan but was not ordered overseas, being placed in the reserve Medical
Corps. He is now a member of the United States Army Medical Examiners. While in
college he did much writing and served on the editorial staff of the year book
and college paper. He also took an active part in athletics, earning his �W� by
his ability and prowess. He was also a member of a college debating team and
took an active part in football, basket-ball, golf, baseball and gymnastics. He
was made a member of the Sigma Delta Psi athletic fraternity, the Beta Theta Pi
social fraternity and the Phi Beta Pi medical fraternity. He has served as an
official at many athletic meets and helped organize the present northern
California Officials Association. The Doctor takes a keen interest in all forms
of athletics and in the Boy Scout movement, having served for five years as
physician to the organization. He is a member of the Sacramento County Medical
Society, the California State Medical Society, the American Medical Association,
the American Association of School Physicians and the American Public Health
Association. He was also president of the Oklahoma State Intercollegiate
Association and of the Southwestern Conference while professor of physical
education at the University of Oklahoma. He is a broad-minded, public-spirited
man, keenly alive to the responsibilities of his position, and has been zealous
in safeguarding the welfare and health of the pupils of the public schools. He
is a man of splendid personality, genial and engaging manner, and all who have
been associated with him hold him in the highest esteem.
Source: History of the Sacramento Valley California Vol. III J. W. WOOLDRIDGE
1931. Page 268-69.